PatriotMBB Notebook (.PDF) |
Patriot League Digital Championship Program |
Championship Game Roster Card
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League men’s basketball title and the League’s automatic berth to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament are on the line Wednesday when No. 2 Lehigh hosts No. 4 Boston University in the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship Game at Stabler Arena.
Live coverage of the title game begins at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, with Jason Knapp handling play-by-play duties, Mo Cassara providing analysis and Hailey Sutton reporting from the sideline. Westwood One will also carry a national radio broadcast of the Patriot League Championship Game with Pat McCarthy and Nick Bahe on the call.
The second-seeded Mountain Hawks advanced to the Patriot League Championship Game for the seventh time in program history, returning after a trip in 2024. Sophomore center Hank Alvey scored a career-high 30 points to down No. 3 Colgate, 76-69, in the semifinals. Junior guard Nasir Whitlock is averaging a League-best 25.5 points in the championship, including a game-winning buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt to defeat No. 10 Holy Cross in the quarterfinals.
No. 4 Boston University upset top-seeded Navy, 73-72, in the semifinals when freshman guard Chance Gladden hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining, his second game-winner of the Patriot League Championship. The Terriers defeated defending champion No. 5 American, 75-73, in the quarterfinals.
The No. 2 Mountain Hawks and No. 4 Terriers will meet for the fifth time in the postseason, with the teams splitting the previous four meetings. Boston University is playing for its second League crown and first since 2020. Lehigh goes for its fourth Patriot League title and first since 2012. The meeting marks the first time a second seed and a fourth seed will play in the Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship.
For more information on the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship,
CLICK HERE. To view the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Basketball Championship Digital Program,
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2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship
| First-Round |
Tuesday, March 3 – Hosted by Higher Seed |
Time |
Results |
| Game 1 |
No. 9 Army West Point at No. 8 Bucknell |
7 p.m. |
Bucknell, 65-55 |
| Game 2 |
No. 10 Holy Cross at No. 7 Lafayette |
7 p.m. |
Holy Cross, 82-77 |
| Quarterfinals |
Thursday, March 5 – Hosted by Higher Seed |
Time |
Results |
| Game 3 |
No. 8 Bucknell at No. 1 Navy |
7 p.m. |
Navy, 74-69 |
| Game 4 |
No. 5 American at No. 4 Boston University |
7 p.m. |
Boston U, 75-73 |
| Game 5 |
No. 6 Loyola Maryland at No. 3 Colgate |
7 p.m. |
Colgate, 90-77 |
| Game 6 |
No. 10 Holy Cross at No. 2 Lehigh |
7 p.m. |
Lehigh, 69-66 |
| Semifinals |
Sunday, March 8 – Hosted by Higher Seed |
Time |
Results |
| Game 7 |
No. 4 Boston University at No. 1 Navy |
2 p.m. |
Boston U, 73-72 |
| Game 8 |
No. 3 Colgate at No. 2 Lehigh |
Noon |
Lehigh, 76-69 |
| Championship Game |
Wednesday, March 11 – Hosted by Higher Seed |
Time |
Coverage |
| Game 9 |
No. 4 Boston University at No. 2 Lehigh |
7 p.m. |
CBS Sports Network |
NO. 4 BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS (17-16, 10-8 PL) AT NO. 2 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (17-16, 11-7 PL)
Stabler Arena/Bethlehem, Pa. 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
WATCH |
LIVE STATS |
TICKETS |
CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
SERIES HISTORY: Boston University and Lehigh will meet for the 30th time in series history, with the Terriers holding a 17-12 advantage. Wednesday’s meeting will mark the first time the programs have faced each other in the Patriot League Championship Game.
SEASON SERIES: Lehigh swept the season series, winning the two games by a combined five points. The Mountain Hawks earned a 93-91 overtime win at Boston University on Jan. 14 before winning a CBS Sports Network televised game in Bethlehem, Pa., on Feb. 22, 70-67.
GAME ONE (Jan. 14 – Lehigh 93, at Boston University 91 (OT) –
BOX SCORE): Sophomore forward Edouard Benoit scored eight of his 23 points in overtime, and the Mountain Hawks connected on all 12 free-throw attempts in the extra session to hold off Boston University in a 93-91 win at Case Gymnasium. Junior guard Nasir Whitlock registered his third 30-point performance of the season, scoring a game-high 30 points while shooting 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Junior guard Joshua Ingram contributed 16 points and four steals, while sophomore forward Hank Alvey posted 10 points and three blocks in the Mountain Hawks’ third straight League win.
*Boston University sophomore center Ben Defty recorded his fourth double-double of the season with a team-high 26 points and 10 rebounds. He also added three assists and two blocks. Junior guard Michael McNair scored 10 of his 24 points in overtime, shooting 8-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, to help the Terriers erase a 12-point halftime deficit to force overtime. Freshman guard Chance Gladden posted his first collegiate double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 assists.
GAME TWO (Feb. 22 – At Lehigh 70, Boston University 67 –
BOX SCORE): Whitlock recorded his Patriot League-best seventh 30-point performance, finishing with 30 points to lead Lehigh to a 70-67 victory over Boston University to secure the 300th career win for Mountain Hawks’ head coach Brett Reed. Reed joins former Lafayette head coach Fran O’Hanlon as the only men’s basketball head coaches to win 300 career games in the Patriot League. Whitlock shot 9-of-16 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line to help Lehigh sweep the season series with the Terriers. Junior guard Jalen Vazquez added 10 points and four rebounds in the nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network.
*Boston University junior guard Michael McNair and freshman guard Chance Gladden scored 17 points apiece to lead the Terriers, combining to shoot 13-of-26 from the floor. Gladden also added five rebounds and four assists. Sophomore forward Ben Defty contributed 14 points and eight rebounds for the Terriers.
PREVIEWS:
BOSTON UNIVERSITY |
LEHIGH
Patriot League Championship History: Boston University vs. Lehigh
Boston University and Lehigh will meet for the fifth time in the Patriot League Championship, and the first time in the title game. The Mountain Hawks and Terriers have split their previous four meetings, with Lehigh winning twice in the semifinals, and Boston University earning its wins in the first round and quarterfinal round. Boston University is seeking its second League title (2020) and Lehigh its first since 2012.
2016-17 – Semifinals – No. 3 Lehigh 91, No. 2 Boston University 88 (2OT)
2017-18 – Quarterfinals – No. 5 Boston University 88, No. 4 Lehigh 82
2020-21 – First Round – No. 7 Boston University 69, No. 10 Lehigh 58
2023-24 – Semifinals – No. 6 Lehigh 84, No. 2 Boston University 79 (OT)
Lehigh and Boston University Rank First and Second in Overtime Games Played
Lehigh and Boston University are first and second, respectively, in NCAA Division I in overtime games played during the 2025-26 season. The Mountain Hawks have needed extra time in seven games this season, while the Terriers have provided bonus basketball for fans six times. Bucknell broke the NCAA DI record for overtime games played in a season with nine in 2024-25.
Late-Game Heroics in the Patriot League Championship
*Gladden Coming Up Clutch: Boston University freshman guard Chance Gladden has hit
two game-winning shots in the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Men’s Basketball Championship. His jumper with two seconds remaining in the quarterfinal round vs. American lifted the Terriers to a 75-73 win. Against top-seeded Navy, Gladden scored five points in the final eight seconds, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left to upset the Midshipmen in the semifinals.
*
Whitlock Making Game-Winners a Habit: Lehigh junior guard Nasir Whitlock’s game-winning heave from beyond halfcourt lifted the Mountain Hawks to a 69-66 victory over No. 10 Holy Cross in the Patriot League Championship quarterfinals. Whitlock, who leads the Patriot League in scoring (20.8 ppg) and has recorded an NCAA Division I-best eight 30-point games, has also been clutch, hitting four game-winning baskets with three or fewer seconds this season.
Lehigh All-Patriot League Honorees
*Jr. G Nasir Whitlock (20.8 ppg, 3.3 apg) earned First Team All-Patriot League honors after leading the League in scoring and ranking second in 3-point field-goal percentage (.447).
*So. C Hank Alvey (15.0 ppg) was a Second Team All-Patriot League honoree. He led the League in blocked shots (1.8), finished second in the League in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and third in field-goal percentage (.631).
Boston University All-Patriot League Honorees
*Jr. G Michael McNair (17.0 ppg) received First Team All-Patriot League accolades after finishing fourth in the League in scoring and ranking among the NCAA Division I leaders in 3-point field-goal percentage (.456).
*So. F Ben Defty (14.9 ppg). claimed Second Team All-Patriot League and All-Defensive Team honors. Defty finished third in the League in rebounding (6.7 rpg) and second in blocked shots (1.8 bpg). His .692 field-goal percentage is second in the League and the third-best single-season mark in League history.
*Fr. G Chance Gladden (14.5 ppg) earned Third Team All-Patriot League and All-Rookie Team honors. He finished second in the League in assists (4.7 apg).
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.